Saturday, October 11, 2008

Ho Yeow Sun

Ho Yeow Sun, better known as Sun Ho, is a Singaporean pop music singer. Ho is married to Reverend Kong Hee and co-founded the City Harvest Church and its community services. Sun started her Mandarin pop singing career in 2002 and subsequently worked with producers and performers such as Wyclef Jean, Diane Warren, The Underdogs, David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager. Ho had a rocky start to her pop artist career; She faced with accusations that her dressing was deemed to be inappropriate for her religious background, and rumors of her using her church's support to aid in album sales. To prevent further controversy, she decided to develop her career outside of Singapore, focusing on China, Taiwan and the US.

From 2002 to 2007, Ho released a succession of five Mandarin pop albums that have either reached double or triple platinum status. During this five-year period, Ho worked with composers such as Ma Yufen , the late Ma Zhaojun , F.I.R., Milk, Arys Chien , Lee Wei Song and Tan Han Jin . “Lonely Travel” was ranked #1 on nine top music charts. Her next album “Gain” released in 2006 reached #1 position on 10 top music charts. Her song, “''Starting Point''” was used as theme song for Singapore TV series “''Turning Point''” based on real-life inspirational stories, of which Ho was the host.

From 2003 to 2006, Ho’s first five English-language releases reached the top of the dance club charts of Billboard Magazine and London-based Music Week, making her the first Asian artist to score successive No. 1 dance hits.

In 2003, Ho broke into Hollywood with her debut American single “''Where Did Love Go'',” produced by David Foster and Peter Rafelson. The song reached #1 on the Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play “Breakout” Chart in December 2003. Subsequently, three of her singles, “''One With You'',” “''Without Love''” and “''Gone''” reached #1 positions on the Billboard Dance Chart. “''Ends Of The Earth''” also joined the abovementioned three singles to reach #1 positions on the UK MusicWeek Chart. Since 2003, Ho has worked with a number of musicians such as Jimmy Harry, Diane Warren, Tony Moran, Chris Cox, Eric Kupper, Jason Nevins, Moto Blanco and the Underdogs.

Ho became the first Asian pop singer to be invited to the Hollywood Film Festival in 2003. The following year, Ho became the only Chinese singer to be invited to the 46th Annual Grammy Awards 2004 Wyclef was also co-writer and executive producer of Ho’s English album, due for release in 2009. She also performed “''China Wine''” with Wyclef at the SonyBMG Europe Music Awards After Party.

Songwriter Diane Warren also composed the song “''因為有你 ''” for Sun’s “Embrace” album.

Ho recorded a song for Olivia Newton John’s benefit CD produced by Amy Sky, “Songs of Hope and Inspiration: Olivia and Friends”.

For the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Ho worked together with music composer David Foster & Carole Bayer Sager to submit a song composition titled “''The Light''.”

In May 2008, Ho was invited to perform ‘live’ at the Vienna City Hall where Europe's biggest AIDS-charity event—the 16th Life Ball was held. Ho was dressed by NYC designers The Blonds .

Humanitarian work

Ho holds an M.A. degree in Counseling and worked as a counselor for troubled teens from 1996 to 2001 at City Harvest Community Services
, a social organization which she has personally founded Having gone through a difficult childhood, Ho has stated that she was motivated to help others out of their similar struggles with depression. Since establishing her career as a pop artist in April 2002, she continues to be involved in raising funds for various charitable organisations.
In 2002, the Junior Chamber of Singapore awarded Ho with “The Outstanding Young Person Award.”

Ho has donated money from her royalties to build schools in Chongqing, Guizhou and Henan . She also sponsored a computer lab for the school in Liaoning, China. Her most recent project took her to Henan Province where her donation of RMB350,000 paid for the rebuilding of a rundown school and its teaching facilities.

In June 2007, Ho was appointed the Music Ambassador for the 2008 Beijing Olympics Songfest by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad .

In August 2007, Ho was named the Charity Ambassador of Love for Asia’s first Special Olympic World Summer Games. At the Special Olympics Charity Gala held on August 11, 2007, Ho auctioned off two personal items to raise RMB600,000 for the Special Olympic Games. Together with Sun Nan, she also performed the Special Olympic official theme song “We Are Together.”

In February 2008, Ho sang the inaugural Mandarin rendition of the 100-year old Olympic Hymn at the opening of the “Olympic Philately & Cultural Tour” launched by The Beijing Olympics. Held at the Royal Theatre within the Forbidden City, Ho was accompanied by a choir of overseas Chinese from 16 different nationalities.

2008 Sichuan earthquake

In May 2008, Ho gave 500 tents to aid as temporary shelter for displaced families of the earthquake in Sichuan, China. Along with her personal donation, Ho also gathered some friends to raise RMB650,000 to buy stationery and educational supplies for the children.

Ho performed on CCTV’s charity program as part of the “Rebuilding The Homeland With One Heart” project to help the quake victims. Other activities of the project include inviting Sichuan artists to Singapore to hold an art exhibition which will showcase the courage of the quake survivors, as well as setting up an education and music foundation for the orphans and other victims of the earthquake.

Other Endeavours

In July 2005, Ho opened a streetwear boutique, SKIN Couture, at The Marina Square , which carries apparels and accessories from American labels such as True Religion, Antik Denim, Bejeweled, etc. Ho and her SKIN partners acquired exclusive distribution for Ed Hardy in Singapore, and opened its first flagship store in Asia at The Heeren Shops on October 29, 2005.
:From April to July 2007, Sun performed in 4 concerts throughout Asia to a total audience of more than 13,000.

*“Gain 2006” Concert
:On July 16, 2006, Ho performed in a one-night concert held at the National Taipei University Stadium to an audience of close to 10,000 people.

*KTU “Beatstock” Concert
:On August 21, 2005, Ho opened the second day of the Beatstock Dance Festival, organized by KTU, a top radio station in New York, with a listener-ship of over two million. Ho was the only Asian artist invited to perform at this event which saw over 16,000 people partied over a two-day period.

*“Lonely Travel 2003/2004” Concert
:From October 2003 to May 2004, Ho has performed in 80 concerts throughout Asia to a total audience of more than 280,000.

*“Sun With Love 2002” Concert
:Ho performed 30 concerts in Asia from April 2002 to December 2002 to a total audience of 118,000. At the two-night “Sun With Love” concert in the Singapore Indoor Stadium, she sang to more than 21,000 fans.